Page:The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated.djvu/491

 THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 479

served for forty years in the Civil Service, and is a composer, painter, and writer. He rescued the Manx music from oblivion, and published Manx National Songs, 1896. One of these long- lost melodies suggested the harmonies and inspired the words of his hymn, The harvest of the sea. The rhyme between the first and fourth lines and the second and third is a feature of Manx music, and Mr. Gill was thus led to put his verses into this form. The old custom of the Manx fishermen to ask God s blessing before they cast their nets gave Mr. Gill his idea. It suits well the character of the Manx fishermen, who are a devout race, and keen lovers of music. The hymn has estab lished its place as a favourite in all the Manx Churches.

The petition in the Litany of the Manx Church, in its Book of Common Prayer, was especially in his mind : That it may please Thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth, and to restore and continue to us the blessings of the sea, so as in due time we may enjoy them.

Before shooting the nets, at a sign from the master of the boat, every man, upon his knees and with uncovered head, implores for a minute the blessing and protection of the Almighty. Manx Society s Publications, vol. xvi.

Hymn 948. O Lord of heaven, and earth, and sea. CHRISTOPHER WORDSWORTH, D.D. (187).

Offertory ; first published in The Holy Year, 3rd edition, 1863, headed Charitable Collections. It is the finest of all offertory hymns.

Canon Ellerton says, It is not in the least poetical ; it is full of halting verses and prosaic lines. And yet it is such true praise, so genuine, so comprehensive, so heartfelt, that we forget its homeliness.

Hymn 949. We give Thee but Thine own. WILLIAM WALSHAM How, D.D. (177).

Written about 1858; published in Morrell and How s Psalms and Hymns, 1864.

The Talmud has a story of Rabbi Jochanan, who was riding with some of his pupils outside the walls of Jerusalem, when they saw a poor woman picking up the grain that had

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